Billionaire Ken Griffin Buys Stegosaurus Fossil for $45 Million

Ken Griffin, the billionaire investor, just bought a nearly complete Stegosaurus fossil for a staggering $44.6 million at a Sotheby’s auction. This fossil, named “Apex,” is one of the most complete Stegosaurus skeletons ever found.

The auction’s final price was much higher than the expected $4 million to $6 million, setting a new record for dinosaur fossil sales. The previous record was $31.8 million for a T. rex named Stan, sold in 2020.

Griffin said, “Apex was born in America and is going to stay in America!” He plans to loan the fossil to an American museum so the public can see it.

The Stegosaurus, which was found in Dinosaur, Colorado, is 27 feet long and 11 feet tall. It lived about 150 million years ago. The fossil was discovered by paleontologist Jason Cooper in 2022.

Some scientists are unhappy with such fossils being sold to private buyers instead of museums or research centers. However, Griffin’s plan to loan Apex to a museum could help make it accessible to everyone.

Griffin, who has a net worth of $37.9 billion, has donated over $2 billion to various causes. His latest purchase continues his tradition of supporting museums and public exhibits.

In summary, Ken Griffin’s purchase of Apex not only breaks records but also aims to educate the public by making this rare fossil available for viewing.